Meet Christen Miller of Diversion Hope and Training Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christen Miller.

Hi Christen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began the journey of entrepreneurship eight years ago with a nonprofit organization called Future Endeavors Life Program (F.E.L.P) which serves at-risk youth ages 10-17 in the areas of entrepreneurship, basic life skills, education, and wellness. Operating in the nonprofit realm for eight years has taught me leadership, grant writing, program management, business startups, networking, but overall, the understanding that every nonprofit should have a for profit component. What some people do not understand is that operating a nonprofit requires years of commitment and passion with little to no compensation for the first few years of building and operating a program. This is not to say that it cannot happen however the likelihood is very slim.

When I first began, I knew that I would not be compensated for my work within the nonprofit as it was not my primary focus, but I also understood that passion would not pay for me to survive either; therefore, I began a consulting agency called Hope and Vision Outreach in which I aid individuals with their nonprofit and for-profit startups. Because I had the experience of filing my own documents to begin a nonprofit, I figured that I could be of service to others and do the same. To date, I have assisted over 1000 individuals with successfully beginning their businesses.

It wasn’t until 2020 when Covid19 hit that I decided to add additional services. Although I did assist very little with individuals beginning their own business, I realized that building businesses were no longer a priority of mine but the state of one’s mental health was. With the increase of addiction, crime, domestic violence, suicide, and constant death tolls increasing due to Covid19, I realized we had another crisis to overcome…. the battle of the mind.

I have an extensive background in mental health with a plethora of certifications and this is what led me to begin Diversion Hope and Training Center LLC. This company not only provides mandated court services such as assessments and psychoeducational courses, but it also allows one the opportunity to receive one on one coaching, participate in training/certifications programs, earn continuing education credits, develop healthy coping mechanisms through therapeutic art and wellness workshops in addition to learning how to start a business which includes Hope and Vision Outreach as a DBA.

Diversion Hope and Training Center LLC is the adult version of F.E.L.P. When you think about it according to the law, at the age of 18, you are an adult therefore, you encounter the responsibilities of what comes with it. Although we may fail, make mistakes, and lose some people during the process of life we want to ensure that everyone that we help does not give up HOPE. Having Only Positive Expectations of the days to come.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
On this journey, I have experienced many ups and downs within entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is such a rewarding journey however now; I realize that everyone will not understand your vision nor accept some of the decisions that you choose to make, and this is okay. Before I became solidified in who I am today, it would really bother me when I didn’t feel the love and support behind the decisions that I was making to pursue my passion and purpose. As time passed, I began to realize more and more that my purpose didn’t need the approval from people, it was about completing the work that God placed me on this earth to do.

We’ve been impressed with Diversion Hope and Training Center LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We want to teach individuals that their current situation does not have to dictate their future. Second chances are not granted to anyone so if you are blessed to receive an opportunity to enhance the overall quality of your life, you should take advantage and do so.

At Diversion Hope and Training Center LLC our focus is to help improve one’s whole self especially pertaining to the mental wellbeing of everyone. We provide psychoeducation specializing in anger management treatment and wellness through therapeutic art.

We have also provided the opportunity for individuals to obtain certification as an Anger Management Specialists and provides the opportunity to begin their own company. I believe the beauty of our company is that it pretty much serves as a wrap-around service. A person could be mandated to receive anger management treatment and then turn around and become a Certified Anger Management Specialist and potentially begin their own private practice. I find that many people pursue companies based upon either their passion or a lesson that could one day serve as a blessing.

As far as the brand, I most proud of myself really tapping into my passion and purpose of teaching. I am a former Substitute Teacher and I believe that my experience allowed me to become the person that I am today operating my own court mandated private practice as well as a training school. Most of all I am proud because we use our own core curriculum and provide other therapist an opportunity to purchase the curriculum to help lead group interventions or even become an author by purchasing our entire curriculum and tailoring it towards their own needs.

We are currently offering therapeutic wellness services through art in which we blend psychoeducational training with therapeutic art together. This has not only been popular with our youth that we serve but it has served as a game changer with adults as well. Therapeutic art involves creative techniques and processes to help improve one’s well-being and self-expression. We are delighted to offer this service, as well as others to the many that we serve.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters to me most is being able to inspire and to be of service to my community. I think at some point of life we have all witnessed many individuals’ lives being taken due to gun violence, incarceration, mental illness, and even suicide all before 18 years of age. My purpose in this season is to teach and inspire individuals to become their best selves providing them a sense of hope and resiliency.

It’s all about planting good seeds into good soil. We may not always water the seeds that we have planted or even watch them grow but just knowing you did your part speaks volume. Besides, God is more than able to do the rest and make the best out of any person or situation.

A person may forget the words that you speak but for certain, they will always remember how you made them feel.

Pricing:

• Anger Management Certification Online Training – $300
• Life/Business Coaching -$130
• Therapeutic Workbooks – $35
• Nonprofit Startup – $500

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hopeandvisionoutreach.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeandvisionoutreach and www.instagram.com/diversionhopecenter
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeandvisionoutreach and www.facebook.com/divserionhopecenter
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/diversionhopecenter